Media Relations Specialist

Responsibilities

• Serve as the university’s primary contact with external media sources.
• Protect the reputation of the university and reflect institutional strategic priorities.
• Conduct media outreach and maintain relationships with reporters.
• Respond to media inquiries in a timely manner.
• Develop, position and pitch stories to news outlets.
• Organize and manage press conferences and media events.
• Maintain the university’s experts list and connect experts with media.
• Provide media training.
• Write and distribute press releases, media advisories, news tips and other stories on behalf of the university.
• Participate in the emergency operations center in times of crisis and support strategic communications efforts.

Requirements

• Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in journalism, mass communications, or a related field.
• Four years of progressively responsible professional experience in news writing, crisis communications, public relations or related experience.
• Additional experience which demonstrates acquired and successfully applied knowledge and abilities shown above may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.
• An advanced degree in a related field may be substituted for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.
• Thorough understanding of media relations strategies and techniques.
• Knowledge of copyright law, media best practices and accessibility in communications.
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, and to demonstrate journalistic style competency.
• Ability to manage multiple, concurrent writing assignments, working successfully under deadline.
• Ability to build and manage strong relationships with media contacts.
• Technical skills to use web-based platforms, including Google Workspace (Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides, etc.), content management systems, software applications, project management platforms, databases and other tools.

Preferred

• Experience serving as media liaison for an organization.
• Experience/background in higher education.
• Experience and competence in working with culturally diverse internal and external audiences.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish.

Benefits

• medical, dental and vision plans
• sick and vacation time
• 15 paid holidays a year
• participate in the fee waiver education program